9/31 in the 31 in 31 blogging challenge. Sure hope you are all enjoying this.
So today I went to class. I did actually recognize a couple of therapists that I had met before. So I did know someone there, sort of. It was still quite different than being at a class at an AMTA class where I usually know several people pretty well.
While I didn’t feel like I learned a lot, I still learned a lot. So much was validating what I have already researched, learned in other classes and have been doing for years. It was more interesting for me to pay attention to the group and learn some things from them.
1. It was all women. Where are the men that are passionate about Oncology Massage?
Is there a lack of diversity in massage practices? Are there more men in the Orthopedic Massage classes? Are there more women teaching Oncology Massage? I dare you all to follow your hearts and not your gender and let your hands lead you to your dream practice.
2. There was a lovely diversity of time in practice. One amazing woman had been practicing for 32 years. Several had been practicing for 18+ years. Some as little as two years. It is an incredible thing that this training is available regardless of how much education or experience you have. So do not let years in practice limit you in pursuing any specialty massage training. You are never too old to learn and never too new to challenge yourself.
3. There was a huge diversity in practices present. We had therapists that had had significant training and experience in Oncology Massage and some that had been working in clinical/medical sectors. We also had some that had only worked in a spa and bless them for showing up and being willing and led to do this. If you think for one minute that spa clients do not have cancer or medical issues you are wrong. They do and they still want to go to their spa.
4. There were therapists present that had been working with cancer patients without any training.
They were already their clients before they had cancer. Perhaps we Massage Therapists are not great at referring clients to other Massage Therapists. Perhaps when clients get cancer the last thing they want to change is Massage Therapists. Some clients will argue that they want to stay with their Massage Therapist even if they do not have Oncology Massage training because they know their Massage Therapist already knows their body and has shown their ability to work with them and care about them.
5. Everyone there is committed to learning to work safely with cancer patients and survivors. Everyone there will tell you they would rather make a difference than make a buck. Everyone there is ready to serve, indeed they have already been in service to the heart for some time.
Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.
Muhammad Ali
If you would like to visit with me about Oncology Massage and massage sessions customized for cancer patients and survivors please give me a call at 610-906-2322